But before we do just that we must first look back over the course of this season and decide amongst ourselves the key players that we must at all costs hold onto, players that the new manager will also be looking at in the final two games and making his own decisions about.
Sam Byram
Sam has been a signing light this season, and I can't see no better place to start this than with our very own "Boy Wonder".
Way back in pre-season before this campaign kick-off Sam Byram was given an opportunity by former manager Neil Warnock to impress in a friendly against Farsley. Sam then linked up with the first team squad in their pre-season tour of the South-West, featuring in the matches played.
Warnock was asked during pre-season:
"Byram’s rapid emergence would continue in the season ahead"
To which Neil responded with:
“No, I don’t think so,”
Sam made his professional debut against Shrewsbury Town in the League Cup, and kept his place in the following match against Wolverhampton Wanderers managing to keep a clean sheet in the process.
With his league debut sorted, and his first clean sheet under his all white strip, all he needed to do now was prove he can score as well. In an attempt to prove his worth to the United following Sam picked up his first goal against Oxford United in the League Cup second round. Picking up the ball just outside of the penalty area, he beat two Oxford defenders with his first and second touches before chipping the goalkeeper from inside the box.
The young Right Back has been the only United player to feature every game of this campaign, with an impressive 44 appearances and 4 goals so far this season. Sam featured in the victories over Premier League opposition and performed well.
The young lads performances this haven't gone unnoticed this season either, his debut goal is in the running for Goal of the Season, he also won Young Player of the Month for March. He has also been gathering interest from Premier League clubs including Manchester City and Everton.
His efforts this season are something to be marveled at, he is fast becoming a Leeds United legend, following in the footsteps of so many others to leave our academy doors. However Sam Byram must remain just that, a Leeds United legend!
Tom Lees
Tom is another player to burst into the first team over the last couple of seasons, being described by Neil Warnock as:
"one of the bright sparks of the season"
Tom made regular appearances this season wearing the number 4 shirt, this was also the season where Tom found his call-up to the England U-21's making a couple of Substitute appearances. Tom is indefinably a player we must hold on to, he is a no nonsense defender and will work hard to get the job done.
Ross McCormack
Ross is a player we find ourselves very lucky to still have on our books, at the beginning of the season it looked very uncertain whether he would still be with us by the end of the transfer window. Neil warnock took a lot of credit in getting Ross to stay and sign a new three year deal. Whether or not Warnock had too much to do with Ross staying is a different matter. What we are looking at now is to why we want him to stay here. Ross had a difficult start to the season after picking up an injury very early on, however despite this he fought hard to get back to fitness, coming back much earlier than had been expected. The Whites following often critisied Warnock's decision this season not to start Ross, who often found himself sat on the bench or playing out of his favoured position. Due to various factors Ross hasn't had a fantastic season, he himself labelled this season as a:
"Waste of time"
Despite it not being a great season for Ross only managing to net 7 goals he did still managed to bag the winner in the FA Cup against Tottenham Hotspur.
Next season with Ross playing a more favoured position and reverting to a more comfortable style under McDermott will see a whole new side to Ross, and that is why we must keep him.
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